Chapter 31
The Sunrise
The ocean shimmered like a secret. Golden light kissed the waves, brushed palm trees, and spilled across the private runway like liquid fire. The island was too quiet.
Logan had always hated silence.
Silence meant thoughts. Thoughts meant ghosts.
But this morning, barefoot in the humid breeze, sweat clinging to his neck, he didn’t hate it as much.
His phone was in his hand before he could stop himself.
A photo.
Sunrise over the surf. Villa rooftops drowned in gold.
The whole place pretending at peace.
No filters.
No caption.
He hit send anyway.
[To: Penny ??]
?? [IMG_0691.jpg]
He stared at the screen, heart punching like he’d just put someone down. Waiting for regret. Waiting for the familiar what the fuck are you doing.
One minute.
Two.
Three.
Then
[From: Penny ??]
Is that a sunrise, Logan Creams?
Did the emotionally unavailable twin just send me a photo of the sky?
His mouth twitched. Almost a smile.
Another message blinked through.
[From: Penny ??]
Beautiful.
I wish I was there.
With you.
Logan froze.
The words lit through his chest hotter than the sun clawing over the horizon.
For once, he didn’t run.
Didn’t shove the phone in his pocket.
Didn’t lie to himself that it meant nothing.
He just let it sit in his palm.
Real. Simple. Dangerous.
***
The city never slept. Neon and sirens painted the night outside my window, but I was curled up on my couch, laptop open, articles half-written, coffee going cold.
Then my phone buzzed.
I glanced down, expecting another pointless alert.
Instead,
?? [IMG_0691.jpg]
A sunrise.
Golden. Quiet. Soft.
From him.
My breath caught.
Logan Creams, king of shadows, sender of one-word texts and threats dressed as jokes… had sent me the sky. I stared at it too long, waiting for the trick. For the punchline. For him to follow with delete this or wrong number.
Nothing came.
My fingers shook when I typed back.
Is that a sunrise, Logan Creams? Did the emotionally unavailable twin just send me
a photo of the sky?
I almost deleted it. Too much. Too sharp.
Then I hit send.
His reply didn’t come. Not right away.
The seconds stretched, my heart hammering.
I was supposed to be better than this.
I was Penny fucking Potter. Gossip queen. Parasite. Woman who could slice reputations with a headline.
But staring at that sunrise?
I wasn’t sharp. Or cold.
I was a woman who wanted him.
So I sent another message. The one that burned my throat.
Beautiful. I wish I was there. With you.
And the second it left my screen, I curled into myself like I’d set the world on fire.
What the hell was I doing?
Falling for Logan Creams?
My laugh was shaky.
Maybe I was insane.
Maybe I was tired of pretending I didn’t already belong to him.
I dropped the phone on the cushion beside me, staring at the photo again.
The sun breaking over the water.
A glimpse of something soft in a man who only ever showed teeth.
I whispered into the quiet “Don’t you dare break me, Creams.”
But my chest already knew the truth.
I’d let him.